Ciara Mageean: European champion and Olympian dies aged 34
European champion and two-time Olympian Ciara Mageean has died at the age of 34 after a battle with stage four bowel cancer. Mageean, from Northern Ireland, won 1500m gold at the 2024 European Championships and represented Ireland at multiple major sporting events.
Why it matters
This article reports the tragic death of a prominent athlete, highlighting the impact of cancer and the loss within the international sports community, particularly in athletics.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Mageean became a European champion in 2024
Former European champion and two-time Olympian Ciara Mageean has died at the age of 34.
Mageean, from Portaferry in Northern Ireland, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025.
She represented Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, but was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Paris Games because of an Achilles injury.
Earlier in 2024, Mageean had clinched the first major title of her career when she took 1500m gold at the European Championships in Rome.
Prior to that she had also represented Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games, winning 1500m silver at Birmingham 2022.
A statement posted on her social media on Sunday said: "At 6.30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones.
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